Mia a King Charles Cavalier spaniel was found in her owners’ home by police on December 1, last year. The RSPCA officer who attended the property said that the seven-year-old dog was in “extremely poor bodily condition” having not been fed.

Sharon Johnson, 44, and Robin Bray, 56, both of Lindfield Road, Romford were handed community sentences at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Both had pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between November 10 and December 1 2013.

Johnson was ordered to complete 135 hours of unpaid work while Bray was put under a 14 week curfew from 7pm to 7am. The two were fined £240 each as well as being ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.